System and method for cellular network computing and communications

Abstract

A cell-based system for computation and communication. A cell is a well-defined structure that associates executable code and data into a basic computational module. A processor can traverse a cell and execute the instructions therein. Cells are arranged into a network with each cell linked to other cells by forward branches or other paths. A processor branches to a cell by loading its program counter with the address of the cell or by sending a packet of data across a communications network to activate remote processing in a cell. Cells have a path selection section for evaluating conditional branches and causing branches to be followed. Multiple branches may be followed in parallel from any cell. A tree-like organization is superimposed on the network by distinguishing one branch to each cell as a superbranch incorporating a return path (called "recession path"). A cell also has a convergence section that handles processors and threads of execution that return to that cell by this path (called "recession"). The convergence section implements rules that control which, if any, processors or threads continue to execute upon recession as well as rules for handling any resulting values associated with the processors or threads. The cellular computational module controls highly parallel and distributed processing and supports dynamic self-modification of the system. Information is acquired within the system not only through the acquisition of data and the modification of executable code within the cells, but also through the encoding of information and behavior into the structure of links that connect the cells.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cell-based computation and communications system comprising: a memory system;   a cell network defined within the memory system, the cell network including a plurality of cells, each cell being associated with instructions defining the behavior of the cell;   the cell network including a plurality of linking cells defining structural links within the cell network, each linking cell having a plurality of forward link references to respective forward linked cells and a recession link reference to a respective recession linked cell; and   a processing system to process instructions within the cell network which is capable of selectively processing instructions associated with different cells in parallel;   wherein the cell network includes instructions for engendering parallel processing in conjunction with following at least some of the forward link references and instructions for controlling convergence of parallel processing in conjunction with following at least some of the recession link references; and   wherein each of the recession link references is defined as part of the structure of the cell network and is established separately from following the forward link references.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 wherein a plurality of respective cells within the cell network are capable of being activated through following forward link references by both (i) an evocation wherein a recession link reference associated with the respective cell is followed upon completion of the activities directed by the respective cell; and (ii) an invocation wherein a return address is provided in connection with activating the respective cell and the return address is followed upon completion of the activities directed by the respective cell. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of forward link references in at least some of the linking cells include conditional forward link references which are followed only when an associated condition is satisfied; and wherein the conditional forward link references in at least some of the linking cells include both (i) a non-exclusive conditional forward link reference which is capable of being followed in parallel with other forward link references in the same cell; and (ii) an exclusive conditional forward link reference which, when followed, is followed to the exclusion of following other forward link references in the same cell in parallel.   
     
     
       4. The system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of forward link references in at least some of the linking cells include conditional forward link references which are followed only when an associated condition is satisfied; and wherein the conditional forward link references in at least some of the linking cells include both (i) a non-exclusive conditional forward link reference which is capable of being followed in parallel with other forward link references in the same cell; and (ii) an exclusive conditional forward link reference which, when followed, is followed to the exclusion of following other forward link references in the same cell in parallel.   
     
     
       5. A cell-based computation and communications system comprising: a memory system;   a cell network defined within the memory system, the cell network including a plurality of cells, each cell being associated with instructions defining the behavior of the cell;   the cell network including a plurality of linking cells defining links within the cell network, each linking cell having a plurality of forward link references to respective forward linked cells and a recession link reference to a respective recession linked cell; and   a processing system to process instructions within the cell network which is capable of selectively processing instructions associated with different cells in parallel;   wherein the cell network includes instructions for engendering parallel processing in conjunction with following at least some of the forward link references and instructions for controlling convergence of the parallel processing in conjunction with following at least some of the recession link references;   wherein a plurality of respective cells within the cell network are capable of being activated through following forward link references by both (i) an evocation wherein a recession link reference associated with the respective cell is followed upon completion of the activities directed by the respective cell; and (ii) an invocation wherein a return address is provided in connection with activating the respective cell and the return address is followed upon completion of the activities directed by the respective cell.   
     
     
       6. The system of claim 5 wherein the plurality of forward link references in at least some of the linking cells include conditional forward link references which are followed only when an associated condition is satisfied; and wherein the conditional forward link references in at least some of the linking cells include both (i) a non-exclusive conditional forward link reference which is capable of being followed in parallel with other forward link references in the same cell; and (ii) an exclusive conditional forward link reference which, when followed, is followed to the exclusion of following other forward link references in the same cell in parallel.   
     
     
       7. A cell-based computation and communications system comprising: a memory system;   a cell network defined within the memory system, the cell network including a plurality of cells, each cell being associated with instructions defining the behavior of the cell;   the cell network including a plurality of linking cells defining links within the cell network, each linking cell having a plurality of forward link references to respective forward linked cells; and   a processing system to process instructions within the cell network which is capable of selectively processing instructions associated with different cells in parallel;   wherein the cell network includes instructions for engendering parallel processing in conjunction with following at least some of the forward link references;   wherein the plurality of forward link references in at least some of the linking cells include conditional forward link references which are followed only when an associated condition is satisfied; and   wherein the conditional forward link references in at least some of the linking cells include both (i) a non-exclusive conditional forward link reference which is capable of being followed in parallel with other forward link references in the same cell; and (ii) an exclusive conditional forward link reference which, when followed, is followed to the exclusion of following other forward link references in the same cell in parallel.   
     
     
       8. A method for controlling parallel processing in a cell-based computation and communications system, wherein the system includes a network of cells, each cell being associated with instructions defining the behavior of the cell, the network of cells including a plurality of linking cells defining structural links within the cell network, each linking cell having a plurality of forward link references to respective forward linked cells in the network and a recession link reference to a respective recession linked cell in the network, the method comprising the steps of: following at least some of the forward link references and at least some of the recession link references in the network of cells;   executing at least some of the instructions associated with the cells referenced by the forward link references and the recession link references which are followed;   engendering parallel processing in conjunction with following at least some of the forward link references in the linking cells;   controlling convergence of the parallel processing in conjunction with following at least some of the recession link references in the linking cells; and   establishing the recession link references independently from following the forward link references.   
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of respective cells within the cell network which are capable of being activated through following forward link references by both (i) an evocation wherein a recession link reference associated with the respective cell is followed upon completion of the activities directed by the respective cell; and (ii) an invocation wherein a return address is provided in connection with activating the respective cell and the return address is followed upon completion of the activities directed by the respective cell;   following at least some of the forward link references in the network by evocation; and   following at least some of the forward link references in the network by invocation.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of: associating conditions with at least some of the forward link references such that an associated forward link reference is followed only when the corresponding condition is satisfied, wherein the conditions include both exclusive conditions and non-exclusive conditions;   selectively following a forward link reference associated with an exclusive condition to the exclusion of following other forward link references in the same cell in parallel; and   selectively following a forward link reference associated with a non-exclusive condition while allowing other forward link references in the same cell to be followed in parallel.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of: associating conditions with at least some of the forward link references such that an associated forward link reference is followed only when the corresponding condition is satisfied, wherein the conditions include both exclusive conditions and non-exclusive conditions;   selectively following a forward link reference associated with an exclusive condition to the exclusion of following other forward link references in the same cell in parallel; and   selectively following a forward link reference associated with a non-exclusive condition while allowing other forward link references in the same cell to be followed in parallel.   
     
     
       12. A method for controlling parallel processing in a cell-based computation and communications system, wherein the system includes a network of cells, each cell being associated with instructions defining the behavior of the cell, the network of cells including a plurality of linking cells defining links within the cell network, each linking cell having a plurality of forward link references to respective forward linked cells in the network and a recession link reference to a respective recession linked cell in the network, the method comprising the steps of: following at least some of the forward link references and at least some of the recession link references in the network of cells;   executing at least some of the instructions associated with the cells referenced by the forward link references and the recession link references which are followed;   providing a plurality of respective cells within the cell network which are capable of being activated through following forward link references by both (i) an evocation wherein a recession link reference associated with the respective cell is followed upon completion of the activities directed by the respective cell; and (ii) an invocation wherein a return address is provided in connection with activating the respective cell and the return address is followed upon completion of the activities directed by the respective cell;   following at least some of the forward link references in the network by evocation;   following at least some of the forward link references in the network by invocation;   engendering parallel processing in conjunction with following at least some of the forward link references; and   controlling convergence of the parallel processing in conjunction with following at least some of the recession link references.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of: associating conditions with at least some of the forward link references such that an associated forward link reference is followed only when the corresponding condition is satisfied, wherein the conditions include both exclusive conditions and non-exclusive conditions;   selectively following a forward link reference associated with an exclusive condition to the exclusion of following other forward link references in the same cell in parallel; and   selectively following a forward link reference associated with a non-exclusive condition while allowing other forward link references in the same cell to be followed in parallel.   
     
     
       14. A method for controlling parallel processing in a cell-based computation and communications system, wherein the system includes a network of cells, each cell being associated with instructions defining the behavior of the cell, the network of cells including a plurality of linking cells defining links within the cell network, each linking cell having a plurality of forward link references to respective forward linked cells in the network, the method comprising the steps of: following at least some of the forward link references in the network of cells;   executing at least some of the instructions associated with the cells referenced by the forward link references which are followed;   engendering parallel processing in conjunction with following at least some of the forward link references in the linking cells;   associating conditions with at least some of the forward link references such that an associated forward link reference is followed only when the corresponding condition is satisfied, wherein the conditions include both exclusive conditions and non-exclusive conditions;   selectively following a forward link reference associated with an exclusive condition to the exclusion of following other forward link references in the same cell in parallel; and   selectively following a forward link reference associated with a non-exclusive condition while allowing other forward link references in the same cell to be followed in parallel.